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This website features work from the completion of Phase 1 of the SCALES Project.

We are currently seeking partnerships for Phase 2.

SDG 16 – Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

  • Problem Set 1

    In this problem set you will prepare for and analyze your performance in a negotiation case called Patriot National Insurance versus Byrnes, Byrnes, and Townsend. Part 1 of the assignment takes you through the preparation phase. You will receive the remainder of the assignment once you’ve completed the negotiation.

    Read more: Problem Set 1

  • Final Paper

    The final paper must be between 4000 and 5000 words and should either address in greater depth one of the case studies explored in class or develop a different case defined by an activist, movement, or event involving science activism after 1945 anywhere around the world.

    Read more: Final Paper

  • Week 3 Reading Guide: The Nuclear Freeze Campaign and the role of organizers

    We start the first day with a brief discussion of Gusterson’s second article, building on the previous long discussion of the first one. The second part of this discussion is based largely on television interviews of two activist leaders of the campaign for nuclear disarmament. We conclude with Beckwith’s chapter and its relevance to current events at MIT.

    Read more: Week 3 Reading Guide: The Nuclear Freeze Campaign and the role of organizers

  • Week 2: Reading Guide

    Each week’s readings will be accompanied by a set of guiding questions. As you read the materials, take notes about key messages as well as questions you have. Class discussions will center around these.

    Read more: Week 2: Reading Guide

  • Project of Change or Research Paper

    Beginning in week four, students should form groups of not more than four students to work collaboratively on either 1) a final research paper or 2) a proposal for a project that responds to a contemporary issue in environmental justice. The project of change or research paper may be designed in collaboration with a local public agency or community-based organization, or by the team without outside consultation.

    Read more: Project of Change or Research Paper

  • Current Event Facilitation

    On the first day of class, each student will sign up for one week of the course’s readings that are of interest, to relate the day’s readings to a current event and to facilitate a 20-minute discussion about the assigned material.

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  • Weekly Response Papers

    Each student will write brief weekly response papers of not more than 500 words each (35%). These should present a critical assessment of the assigned material and not a mere restatement of content (link to class readings). The responses give you an opportunity to analyze key ideas that cut across readings, identify questions the readings prompt you to ask, suggest critiques of the data, methodology, or conclusions, or raise concepts you want to clarify.

    Read more: Weekly Response Papers

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